Don't Forget to Vote Tomorrow!

Don’t forget to vote Tuesday, August 12 in Wisconsin’s Partisan Primary! 

Statewide primaries are as follows:  Democratic Governor,  Democratic Lieutenant Governor,  Democratic Attorney General, Republican and Democratic State Treasurer, and Republican Secretary of State.  Remember, you can only vote for one party on Tuesday!

There are also local races for state Assembly and Senate seats and several congressional primaries, including a hotly contested Republican primary in the 6^th Congressional District between State Senators Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) and Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan) and State Representative Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville), as well as an unexpected Democratic primary between Congresswoman Gwen Moore and former State Senator Gary George in the 4^th Congressional District.

To check your registration status and see what’s on your ballot, visit   myvote.wi.gov

From the Government Accountability Board: Top Ten Things Primary Voters Need to Know

Governor Walker Releases 2015-17 State Budget Policies

The 2015-17 state budget process officially began last week when Governor Walker released his budget directives to state agencies. 

Walker directed agencies to submit budget requests that include no new GPR appropriations, though he does list K-12 school aids as an exception to this, and called on agencies to eliminate or reform outdated programs.

“Agency requests should focus on continuing to grow our state’s economy and improve the lives of our fellow Wisconsinites,” writes Walker in a letter to state agency heads.  “Agencies are encouraged to reform or even eliminate obsolete and outdated programs in order to fund new initiatives within their current base, rather than seeking additional funds or positions.”

The letter highlights the state’s positive economic condition and the tax cuts implemented during the last state budget and legislative session.  Walker also signals a continued commitment to freezing tuition for UW students and making additional investments in transportation, technology and workforce development programs.

"In training and education, we will continue our efforts to leverage technology to provide students in all corners of the state with access to our world-class institutions, as we did with the UW Flexible Option," Walker says. 

Agency budget requests are due on September 15, 2014. Walker will use these requests to begin developing his 2015-17 state budget, which will be introduced in February. 

Governor Walker’s full letter to state agencies.

Full state budget directives